This week's talisman continues a series of comparisons
of the new English translation from Arabic of the Picatrix from
Ouroboros Press and the Latin Picatrix
edited by David Pingree which is
available from the
Warburg Institute.

The Picatrix
is an encyclopedic work of medieval Arabic
astrological magic. It had great influence on
Renaissance mages like Cornelius Agrippa and
Marsilio Ficino and was unpublished, in any language, until
modern times. We are therefore fortunate to have the Ouroboros translation of the
first two books of Picatrix. Comparison between the Latin and Ouroboros
Picatrix, however, makes the Ouroboros translation clearer.
Mars has a traditional association with blood, but
generally we tend to associate Mars with the shedding of blood as he is the god
of war.
Cornelius Agrippa
reports that Mars rules over the
body's blood and that the table of Mars, "...if engraven on the [cornelian]
stops blood and the menstrues." Three Books of Occult Philosophy
Bk I, Chapter 22; Bk II, Chapter 22. Once again we have an example of the benefic
use of Mars even in traditional astrology.
We turn to the second complete talisman on page 141 of the
Ouroboros translation of Book Two, Chapter Ten of Picatrix.

Of the Talismans of Mars

If a picture of a lion this symbol between his hands
[see picture to above right] is carved on a stone of garnet [with Mars rising in Mars hour]
it will stop the bleeding of any organ of the person holding this stone. Be aware
of that.

To stop blood from flowing from whatever part of the body you wish. Make of the
operations of Mars, the form of a lion and in front of it are these figures or
signs [see picture above to left] in the hour of Mars, second face of Scorpio ascending
and as we have said make it in onyx. Whoever carries this image, the flow of
blood out of any part of their body will immediately be stopped.

Translation by Christopher Warnock, Esq.

The election for this talisman is
December 18, 2002 at 3:46 am EST (+5) for Cleveland Park,
a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., 38 N 56, 77 W 03.
Mars rises in the second face of
Scorpio. Note
that 0-9 degrees is the first face, 10-19 degrees the second and 20-29 degrees,
the third face. It is the day and
planetary hour of Mars.
I have provided two examples of talismans suitable for
this election. They may be downloaded for personal use only. Light red candles.
Burn martial incense. Agrippa suggests
euphorbium,
bdellium or
gum ammoniac.
Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Bk. I, Chapter 44.
All of these
are available from Alchemy Works, an
excellent source for all sorts of traditional incense, herbs and resins. Then
color in the talisman at the elected time.
Make an invocation to Mars.
Here is the "Hymn to Mars" from
Thomas Taylor's Hymns of Orpheus,

Magnanimous, unconquer'd boistrous Mars,
In darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars:
Fierce and untam'd, whose mighty pow'r can make,
The strongest walls from their foundations shake:
Mortal destroying king, defil'd with gore,
Pleas'd with war's dreadful and tumultuous roar;
Thee, with human blood, and swords, and spears delight,
And the dire ruin of mad savage fight.
Stay, furious contests, and avenging strife,
Whose works with woe, embitter human life;
To lovely Venus and to Bacchus yield,
To Ceres give the weapons of the field;
Encourage peace, to gentle works inclin'd,
And give abundance, with beningant mind.